I woke up hearing my phone's ringtone. My eyes flung open and I tried to remember where I am - The park.

I dug my phone out of my pocket, I squinted and checked the caller ID.

'Eomma~'

My eyes bulged. I quickly rejected the call. I checked my watch and it was already 15 minutes past 12am. Taehyung's head was still resting on mine, and he was still soundly asleep.

Should I wake him up? I'm not his girlfriend anymore, it's been a day.

"Taehyung?" I called his name shook him. He slightly moved. "Wake up, my 'punishment' is done," I said.

He slightly opened his eyes and sat up straight, sighing.

I fixed my hair and my jacket, I was about to stand up before he stopped me and I sat back down.

He lay down on the bench and rested his head on my lap. "Five more minutes," he said in his sleepy voice and closed his eyes.

"Yaahh..." I said and stared at him, flustered. "I'm late already, my parents are gonna kill me."

He had no respond. Five minutes it is then.

I scrutinised his face and smiled. He looks like a little kid when he sleeps. I started playing with his hair, squishing his cheeks but he never moved. With that, five minutes past fast.

I shook him and he woke him up. "Five minutes is up," I said. He finally got up and rubbed his eyes, yawning.

"Let's go," I said and stood up with him.

We walked home together, feeling sleepy. Suddenly, my hand was held. I stared down at my hand then looked up at Taehyung.

"W-Why are you...?" I stuttered.

"I know it's past midnight. Just be my girlfriend until we reach your doorstep," he said and gave his box-like smile, holding onto my hand tight.

I blushed and looked away. Doesn't seem like a punishment, does it? Wait, I'm not supposed to... ah nevermind.

We finally reached my doorstep and I turned to face him.

"Thanks for sending me home. It's nice being your girlfriend for a day, but it's a stupid punishment," I said to him.

He chuckled and slowly let go of my hand. "Yaahh, you're totally into me now aren't you?" He said and smacked my forehead with his palm.

"Ow!" I glared at him. "Anniya! Just get lost ugh," I said and rolled my eyes.

He slightly laughed and walked away.

Just when I was about to open the gate, he came back running to me.

"One last thing before I go," he said. I looked at him, confused.

He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a tight hug. I had a blank expression and I hoped he didn't feel my heart pounding violently in my chest. What's wrong with this kid? I hugged him back and seconds later he pulled away.

"Thanks for today, goodnight," he said quickly and ran off.

I watched his back as he went, and realised I couldn't erase my smile off.

'Isn't he the one who's totally into me?' I thought to myself and chuckled as I got into the house.

**

I took a bite on my sandwich as I read my book. My parents sat opposite me and ate breakfast as well. I looked up at them, then awkwardly looked back down at my book.

"Where were you last night?" My dad asked me in a fierce tone.

"I went to meet up with a friend," I said to him, still looking at my book.

"Next time don't be out so late. I got so worried seeing you not in your room at midnight," my mom said as she poured tea into dad's cup.

I nodded. "Gotta go, annyeong," I said, trying to escape and grabbed my bag, almost stepping out of the house.

"Yah! Lee Hyejin. Come here and sit back down," my dad called me as he looked at me with threatening eyes.

I trembled in fear, my dad's gonna blast at me. He hates me sneaking out late and night. Once I was caught and I was grounded for a month.

I went back and sat infront of him, looking down.

"Why was it so important that you have to be out at midnight huh?!" Dad yelled at me.

"Let her be, she's gonna be late for school if you're gonna keep reprimanding her," my mom defended me.

Instead, my dad still continued nagging at me. My mom gave up persuading him and went to wash the dishes.

I was already 30 minutes late, and my dad was still lecturing about how dangerous it is to be out at night. I almost doze off to sleep listening to him.

"LEE HYEJIN!" My dad shouted and my eyes bulged open and I stared at him.

"This is to remind you not to be out late again," he said as he took out his leather belt. Shit. "Give me your hand."

I reluctantly put my hand infront. Seconds later, my hand had a red mark after my dad hit me with the belt. It was really painful.

"Go to school, now," he said and I quickly got up, holding my tears and rushed to school.

I reached school and I was 40 minutes late already. I walked through the hallway when suddenly the discipline master stood infront of me and yet again I got another lecture for being late.

I sighed, my ears were about to bleed at listening all these adults nagging at me, when obviously them being young have rebelled before.

"...Lee Hyejin, detention after school," Mr Kim said. I nodded and rushed into class.

"Good morning Ms Jaei," I greeted the teacher as I walked to my seat while trying to ignore all the awkward stares. Everyone turned back their attention to the teacher after I took my seat.

"Hey, why you're so late?" Seojun asked me.
"My dad chided me just now because I went out late at night," I told him and slightly frowned.
"Well, where were you late at night?" Seojun asked and looked at me.

I looked back at him and gulped. "Uh, I went over to Mina's place."

He softly laughed. "Mina was at her cousin's birthday party last night. Didn't you see her SNS?"

I smiled sheepishly and tried to hide my embarrassment, I totally suck at lying.

"Well I just went out alone for some fresh air and fell asleep at the park," I tried lying again, but I guess he knew I was making it up, but he chose to ignore it.

***

Break came and I sat alone when suddenly Mina came to sit beside me. "Hey Jinnie~" she greeted me and put her tray down.

"Oh, hey. Why're you here?" I asked her.

"To eat with you?" She said and smiled, "But Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook's coming to sit too."

I pursed my lips and nodded. Nothing new.

Suddenly, Seojun came to approach me. "Hey, you don't mind if I sit here right?" He asked.

I nodded and he sat down beside me. I felt awkward at this unusual situation where everyone's sitting around me during break. I'm used to sitting alone.

"Hey guys!..." Jimin trailed off when he saw Seojun. Jungkook and Jimin exchanged glances with Taehyung, before they finally sat opposite us.

The table had an awkward atmosphere, nobody talked and we all just ate quietly.

"We should form a new squad," Mina suddenly said and all our eyes turned to her.

"Michyeoseo?" Jungkook whispered to her. Everyone continued eating and ignoring her.

"Aisshh... I was just suggesting," she said. "Oh? Hyejin ah. What's wrong with your hand?"

I looked up at her and then looked at my left hand that still has the red mark because of my father's caning. Everyone then looked at my hand.

"Huh? Uh... this is..." I was thinking of an excuse to say besides caning because it's embarrassing but suddenly, Taehyung grabbed my hand and brought it closer for him to see.

He studied my hand. "Leather belt?" He said. I pulled my hand away and put my hands under the table.

"You got caning?" Seojun asked me and took my hand. He gently carressed it and I awkwardly looked away. The others were looking at him.

"Yah, if she doesn't wanna show her hand you should put it down," Taehyung said.

Seojun looked up at Taehyung before he let go of my hand.

Feeling extremely awkward, I stood up and carried my tray. "I'm done, thanks for eating with me today, guys," I said and left.

**

Break was over and I was at my locker when suddenly Mina came to me.

"Ay Hyejin ah," She called.
"Hmm?"
"Umm... I've got something to ask you," she said.
"What is it?"
"Do you think Taehyung is jealous of you and Seojun? Do you think Taehyung likes you?"

I looked at her, confused, not sure how to answer her. "I don't think Taehyung will have such feelings towards me," I replied.

"Then do you like Taehyung?" She asked, staring deeply in my eyes, looking serious.

I don't know why, my heart was pounding fast, and I couldn't answer her quick. I became nervous.

"A-Anniya! Of course not! Why would I like a monkey like him?" I said and nervously laughed.

She laughed along. "That's a relief. You do know I like him right? He's a hard one to get close to, but I'm trying my best," she said and smiled at me.

I weakly smiled back at her. "Ahh... all the best to you. I know my bestfriend can get all the boys just by the snapping of her fingers," I teased her.

She giggled. "Araseo, I'll go to class first okay!" She said and left.

I turned to my locker, and sighed.

I really do not like Taehyung, right?